11 

38 
ay 1 




REPORT 



OF 



FISHERIES AND FISH CULTURAL 



CONDITIONS 



ON THE 



EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND 



1917 



BY 



J. P. SNYDER, FISH CULTURIST 
U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



REPORT 



OF 



FISHERIES AND FISH CULTURAL 
CONDITIONS 



ON THE 



EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND 



1917 



BY 

J. P. SNYDER. Fish CULTURIST 

U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 







D. Of D.. 
JUN 28 191? 



INTRODUCTION. 



The Conservation Commission of Maryland recognizing the 
great possibilities of the fish industry in the waters of the 
State, determined to make an exhaustive study of the problems 
in order to plan for a systematic development. 

The United States Bureau of Fisheries was asked to assist 
in this work and assigned Mr. J. P. Snyder, one of their expert 
culturists, to investigate the fisheries and fish cultural conditions 
on the Eastern Shore. His work covered a period of about nine 
weeks during March, April and May, 1917, and discloses con- 
ditions so alarming that it seems advisable to give his report 
Avide circulation in order to acquaint the people of the State 
with the need of remedial legislation to rehabilitate one of 
]\Iaryland's great natural resources; we are therefore submit- 
ting, to the interested public through this pamphlet, his full 
report to this Commission with all criticisms and recommenda- 
tions. 

Conservation Commission of Maryland. 



Department of Commerce, 

Bureau of Fisheries, 

Washington. 



Address all communications to 

Commissioner of Fisheries, 

Washin^on, D. C. 



Washington, May 31, 1917 



The donservation Commission of Maryland, 
Baltimore, Md. 

G-entlemen: — Permit me to present for your consideration 
the following report as to fish cultural possibilities of yellow 
perch, white perch and shad on the Pocomoke, Wicomico, Nanti- 
coke. C'hoptank, Tuckahoe and Chester Rivers — all on the East- 
ern Shore of Maryland. This report is confined to those parts 
of the above mentioned rivers that are natural spawning beds 
of shad. No effort was made to obtain data as to yellow perch 
and white perch cultural possibilities on other waters or on the 
above waters except as indicated above. 

Pocomoke River. 

On this river shad spawn on a section from a few miles below 
Pocomoke City to three or four miles above Snow Hill, a dis- 
tance of about 22 miles. This is governed somewhat by the 
volume of fresh water coming down the river. During hea^■y 
freshets spawning shad are found farther down the river than 
during droughts. This same variation is found on the other 
rivers mentioned. 

On this section of the river shad are taken only in hoop nets 
(skin nets) except that four pounds are set about four miles 
below Snow Hill. These boW nets are fished from rowboats or 
dugouts. The fishing is done by two men drifting with the tide. 
One man sits in the bow of the boat and holds the net sub- 
merged in the water and the other man sits in the stem and 
keeps the boat straight and pushes it along just fast enough to 
keep the bag of the net extended. When a fish enters the net 
and strikes the webbing it imparts to the net, including the 



6 

handle, a vibration or jar that is sensible to the man holding it 
and the net is immediately drawn up and the fish removed, then 
the net is again submerged and the fishing continued. 

To determine just what the shad cultural possibilities are on 
this river I personally interviewed 17 men who have fished for 
shad on this section of the river more or less during the past 15 
years. In these interviews I asked each man to give me the 
smallest catch he made last year in any one day, his largest 
catch and his average catch for the season for each day he 
fished, then I asked each one to go back 15 years ago and give 
me as nearly as he could recall his smallest catches, his largest 
catches and his average catches. A summaiy of these interviews 
is herewith submitted in tabulated forai. 

Prom this report it would appear that about one-seventh as 
many shad returned to these spawning beds on this river as re- 
turned there 15 years ago, but this is not strictly true for only 
about half as many men fished on these waters last year as 
fished there 15 years ago. This unquestionably tended to in- 
crease the catches of the men fishing last year beyond what they 
would have caught had the number of fishermen been doubled 
so that it seems certain that only about one-tenth as many shad 
return to their spawning beds on this river as compared with 
. 15 years ago. Nor is this all for it is well kno^vn that the run 
of shad on all these rivers had been rapidly decreasing for 
years prior to 1901. By this tabulated sheet it will readily be 
seen that very little shad cultural work can be done here under 
present conditions. 

Practically no yellow perch are taken on this section of the 
river. Some white perch (locally called black perch) are taken 
in gill nets and in the four pounds below Snow Hill, but not 
enough to justify fish cultural operations. Catfish, striped bass, 
herrings and bullheads are rapidly disappearing. See addendum. 
Report No. 1. 

Beport No. 1, Shad Catch, Pocomoke River. 

Smallest catch 1901— 16 1916— 1 

Largest catch. 1901—125 1916—30 

Average catch 1901— 33 1916— 5 

This represents experience of 17 fishermen of record. 



Wicomico River. 

In this river shad spawn from a point about two miles below 
Salisbuiy to eight miles below that city. See attached tabulated 
Report No. 2 showing the shad caught on this section of the 
river as compared with years ago. From this tabulated report 
it will readily be seen that only about one-twentieth as many 
shad spawn here as in previous years and I am convinced from 
personal observation and contact with these men during the sea- 
son just closed that this tabulated report is no exaggeration of 
the decline of the shad industry at this place, nor is this con- 
dition confined to shad alone, but to herrings, rock and sturgeon. 

About 50 men drift gill nets on this section of the river. These 
nets are about 60 yards long and some men use several nets. 
These men are mostly fanners and laborers living along this 
part of the river. ' Years ago several haul seines were operated 
here. Mr. S. M. Smith, Capt. Henry Todd and Mr. Elijah Town- 
send told me that at one time these seines frequently caught 
as many as 600 shad per haul but that when they were discon- 
tinued five or six years ago a catch of 25 shad was considered 
a large catch. All of these seining shores have been abandoned 
as the run of shad and herring and rock became so small that 
enough fish to cover the expense could no longer be taken. 

Mr. S. P. Jenkins, one of the men employed as a spawntaker 
at that place last year, told me that they had six spawntakei*s 
on this front of the river, that they regularly attended all the 
fishemien and that they obained during the season less than 
100 spawning fish. This was verified by my interviews Avith 
fishermen. From these reports and the attached tabulated re- 
port it will readily be seen that very little shad cultural work 
can be done here under present conditions. Some yellow perch 
are taken in gill nets, but not many, and at times fair catches 
of white perch are taken in the same way. White perch and 
yellow perch are also taken in pound nets farther down the 
river, but now^here in large numbers. 

Report No. 2, Shad Catch, Wicomico River. 

Smallest catch 1901— 10 1916— 1 

Largest catch 1901—100 1916—12 

Average catch 1901— 36 1916— 3 

This represents experience of 19 fishermen of record. 

A number of other fishermen gave similar data, but they 
seemed suspicious of me and refused to give me their names. 



8 
Nanticoke River. 

On this river ripe shad spawn from Sharptown, Md., to a 
point about four miles above Woodland, Del., a distance of 
about 12 .miles. These fish also spawn in a creek entering the 
Nanticoke River, about three miles below Woodland. The fish 
.are taken in gill nets, pound nets and haul seines. The gill nets 
used are from 125 to 175 yards long and most men use two nets. 
No pound nets are set above the Delaware line, about two miles 
above Sharptown. Formerly eight haul seines were operated 
on these spawning beds, but at this time only one is used. This 
seine is about 450 yards long and is fished about one mile above 
Woodland, Del. During the season just closed less than 40 
shad per day's fishing were taken in this net. Yeara ago on this 
same beach more than a thousand shad per day were taken in a 
similar seine, and at this same place the decline in the herring 
fishing is even niiore marlved, especially branch herring. 

Seine and pound-net men whom I inteiTiewed told me that 
branch herring once so numerous here were almost extinct ; there 
is still a run of glut herring, but only about one-tenth as large 
as 15 years ago. 

Some fish cultural work had for many years been conducted 
on this river, but from the reports obtained almost no eggs of 
any species were obtained in recent years. Mr. A. S. Boyce, 
who operates the seine just above Woodland, Del., told me that 
he caught approximately 50 spawning shad last season, an aver- 
age of less than two per day during the spawning season. Some 
ripe shad are also taken in gill nets, but the catches are so 
small that but few eggs can be obtained from these men and the 
cost would be prohibitive. See attached tabulated report giving 
catches in recent years as compared with years ago. 

From the reports obtained and in view of the facts that each 
year less and less men fish in these waters for shad and the 
further fact that those that do fish are using two nets to each 
boat where but one was used years ago, it seems certain that not 
more than one-twelfth or one-fifteenth as many shad spawn here 
as compared with 15 years ago. 

As no pound or fyke nets are used above the Delaware line 
and during drouths brackish water ascends to Riverton, Md., a 



9 

village five miles below Sharptown, it will be seen that the sec- 
tion in whieh yellow perch and Avhite perch eggs can be obtained 
is quite limited. In fact but few yellow perch are caught in this 
section of the river. Grood catches of white perch are taken 
and it is believed about fifty million eggs could be collected. 

The eggs collected at this place were incubated in a small 
hatchery situated below a dam on a tributary of the Nanticoke 
River. Mr. J. H. Bennett, who had charge of this work in 
recent years, told me that the water in this dam liecamc very 
warm and injuriously affected the eggs and fry. 

Report No. 3, Sliad Catcli, Nanticoke River. 

Smallest catch 1901— 15 1916— 1 

Largest catch 1901—200 1916^5 

Average catch 1901— 47 191 6— 7 

This represents experience of 20 fishermen nf record. 

Final Report, Chester River. 

On this river shad spawn from Chestei-town, Md., to a point 
two miles below Millington, Md., a distance of about 12 miles. 
On this stretch their abundance is greatest for a distance of 
three miles above Crumpton, Md. Some years ago a channel 
Avas dredged in this section of the river and in this narrow 
ditch shad in some seasons have been quite plentiful. They arc 
taken principally in gill nets set across the channel and held 
in place by stakes. In the upper stretch of the river the nets 
are set and lifted each evening. Between Crumpton and Ches- 
tertown they let them set day after da}', lifting them twice each 
day on low water. Along this section it is safe to say that 
most of the ripe eggs within the shad taken in these nets be- 
come food for eels, for if shad are permitted to remain long in 
anchored nets they are almost invariably sucked by eels. Some 
eggs could be collected in the upper section of the river and 
some may also be collected in the vicinity of Chestertown if the 
fishermen could be induced to lift their nets more frequently. 
See addenum report. 



10 

It was found that the 1917 run of yellow perch and white 
perch on this river was the largest in recent years. This was 
true at all the points visited. It was learned that many millions 
of their eggs could have been obtained in the vicinity of Centre- 
ville. Seven men fish at this place and at one time they had 
over 7,000 yellow perch penned waiting for a better market. 
Many of these fish spawned in the pens and buckets of eggs 
could have been obtained. These men could be induced to hold 
all the green perch taken if they were paid a reasonable sum 
for the eggs collected from them. Doubtless from 50 to 100 
million yellow perch eggs could be collected here and from the 
reports obtained a large number of white perch might be ob- 
tained. These eggs if desired could be transferred to Crump- 
ton, Md., where even larger collections of yellow perch and 
white perch eggs could be made. Many fyke nets (so-called 
pound nets) are fished in the vicinity of Crumpton. One man 
alone had 50 of these nets set in the river at the time of my 
visit, April 18, 1917. Many of the white perch taken on that 
date were ripe and from this man alone (H. H. Hartley) on 
that date several million of white perch eggs could have been 
taken from the fish he caught. ' On the same date at Ohester- 
towu I saw large numbers of ripe white perch, tons of yellow 
perch and white perch were daily taken at Crumpton and other 
tons were taken l^y men living along the river and at Chester- 
town. It seems certain more of these eggs could be collected 
along this section of the Chester River and at Centreville than 
at any of the other rivers visited by me. The fishermen at 
Crumpton would be willing to pen the hard yellow perch taken 
in their nets and collect the spawn before selling the fish. 

All these men report a great decrease in the number of her- 
ring taken. From the reports obtained it seems certain that not 
more than one-tenth as many heri'ing reach their spawning 
beds on the Chester River as compared with 15 years ago. 

Rock and catfish are also getting very scarce. See addendum, 
Report No. 4. 



11 

Report No. 4, Shad Catcli, Chester River-. 

Smallest catch 1901— 10 1917— 1 

Largest catch 1901—300 1917—46 

Average catch 1901— 58 1917— 9 

This represents experience of 16 fishermen of record. 
One fisherman reported that his entire catch of shad for 1917 
season only 398. 

ChOPTANK RlVKR AND TUCKAHOE CkEEK. 

On the Choptank Rivei' shad spawn from Williston. Md., to 
a point seven miles above Denton, INId., a distance of ten miles 
and on theTuckahoe Oreek from a jjoint one mile beloAv Cowards' 
Point to a point six miles above that place. On these beds the 
fish are taken almost entirely with gill nets that are drifted with 
the tides. These are short nets averaging about 70 yards long 
and each fisherman usually fishes about four nets. Although 
more shad are taken on tlie spawning beds of these waters than 
en the spawning beds of the other rivers visited from inter- 
vicAvs with the fishermen and from personal observation of the 
catches made during the season just closed there can be no ques- 
tion, but only about one-tenth as many shad spawn here as com- 
pared with 15 or 20 years ago. The average catch per boat per 
day's fishing with three, four and five nets did not exceed 10 
shad. Years ago an average of 10 or 50 shad per day Avere 
taken with, one net. 

On these waters the catch of yelloAv perch and white ]ierch is 
becoming less and less showing a gradual decrease in theirvimm- 
ber. Rock fish are rapidly disappearing as well as whitecat and 
bullheads. 

Almost no branch herring spawn on these beds where years 
ago all the shallow waters and every stream was alive with them. 
They came up here in endless numbers. noAv almost none are 
seen. In these waters as in the other rivers visited there is still 
a limited run of glut herring, but here too they are very rapidly 
disappearing and unless drastic measures are immediately taken 
to permit these fish to return to their natural spawning beds 
they too will soon be practically extinct. 



12 

On the Choptank and Tuckahoe for some years past the State 
has done some fish cultural Avork and although every effort was 
made during the past season to obtain the eggs from all the ripe 
fish taken in the fishermen's nets only ■4,215,000 shad eggs were 
obtained. This is very discouraging. In view of the small 
number of eggs available for propagation and the expense at- 
tached thereto the wisdom of continuing the work here becomes 
doubtful until remedial legislation is passed permitting more 
fchad to reach these spawning beds. 

See addendum report covering hatchery work on these waters. 

Tuckahoe and C'iioptank Hatchery Work Season, 1917. 
Yelloav Perch. 

On March 14th arrangements were made for opening the 
Tuckahoe Hatchery with a view to collecting yellow perch, 
white perch and shad eggs from fish caught by commercial fish- 
ermen on that creek, also for handling any eggs of these species 
that could be obtained from men fishing on the Choptank Kiver. 
To do this work a fewl men were employed and two small gas 
boats were transferred to the station. From March 22nd to 
April 2nd a total of 45,050,000 yellow perch eggs were collected 
and placed in hatching boxes. All of these eggs were in good 
condition and it is estimated that 98 per cent, of them produced 
fish. See addendum. Reports Nos. 5 and 6, covering collections 
and distribution. More of these eggs could have been obtained 
had the collections been started earlier and had the employees 
made a greater effort to attend all the fishermen. Although the 
foreman had been directed to attend the fishermen on the Chop- 
tank River in the vicinity of Denton, Williston and Graney's, it 
was later found he had not done so. The eggs received from 
that river were collected independently of the hatchery crew 
and later turned over to the State's employees. Many more of 
these eggs could have been collected on this river for the follow- 
ing fishermen: Pinkine, Frazer and Deal told me that they 
could and would have furnished large numbers of these eggs 
had the State's employees attended these nets or furnished them 
with the proper equipment for collecting the eggs. 

See addendum. Reports Nos. 5 and 6. 



Report No. 5, Collection of Yellow Perch, Tnckalioe and 
Glioptank Rivers, Season 1917. 

Tuckahoe River 21,400,000 

Choptank River 23,650,000 

Report No. 6, Yellow Percli Bistrihution, Season 1917. 

Numher Waters Stocked Locations, etc. 

1.000,000. . . .Moore's Creek Talbot Comity 

1,000,000. . . .Watts' Creek (^aroline County 

400,000 West fork, Nantieoke R Caroline County 

400.000 West fork, Nantieoke R Dorchester County 

400,000. . . .Nantieoke River Dorchester County 

400,000. . . .Mardella Creek Wicomico County 

600,000 .... Horse Shoe Bencl Creek .... Caroline County 

600.000 . . . .Wye Creek Queen Aime County 

600,000 Chester River Kent County 

1,500,000 .... Elbins' Creek Caroline Cbuntv 

1,500,000 Deep Creek Caroline County 

400,000 .... Fowland Creek Caroline County 

400,000 Williston Creek Caroline County 

20,000,000 .... Tuckahoe River Vicinity of Hatchery 

600,000— West fork, Nantieoke R Caroline County 

600,000 .... Choptank River Caroline County 

(Charter's Bridge) 

5,000,000 Choptank River Caroline County 

6,050,000. . . .Tuckahoe River Caroline County 

200,000 Patuxent River Anne Arundel Co. 

(Bristol) 

100,000 West River Anne Arundel Co. 

100,000 South River Anne Arundel Co. 

100,000 Rhode River Anne Arundel Co. 

300,000 Severn River Anne Arundel Co. 

200,000 Back River Baltimore County 

200,000 Middle River Baltimore County 

200,000 Blig Black Water Dorchester County 

200,000 Little Black Water Dorchester County 

200,000. . . .Transquakin River Dorchester County 

200,000 .... Chicacomico River Dorchester County 



43,450,000 Total 
45,050,000 Eggs Collected 
1,600,000 Lost 



14 

TUCKAHOE AND ChOPTANK HaTCHERY WoRK. 

White Perch. 

Ripe white perch were seen as early as March 25th. At that 
time men were making fairly large catches of these fish, but as 
only three men had been employed and they were engaged in 
collecting and looking after yellow perch eggs, the foreman 
made no effort to collect any white perch eggs during my ab- 
sence inspecting fish cultural conditions on other rivers. He re- 
ported, however, that he could have gotten a good many millions 
of these eggs, but said he failed to do so because none of the 
hatching boxes were fitted Avith suitable wire for retaining the 
fry. Upon my return to the Station I went with him on April 
2nd and personally visited a number of fishermen and found 
that a large percentage of the white perch being caught were in 
a spawning condition. I directed him to attend as many of the 
fishermen as possible and to secure all the eggs he could, also 
directed him to arrange with the fishermen where possible to 
take the eggs themiselves, to pay them not alone for the eggs 
taken but for their time while so engaged and to make every 
effort to get as many of these eggs as practicable with the men 
at his disposal. The following day I went to Washington. Some 
days later upon my return to the station I found he had col- 
lected but 800,000 of these eggs, that the smaller gas boat was 
out of commission, needing repairs, and that he had let one of 
the employees go home in the larger boat. This man failed to 
return until April 12th. By this time the white perch season 
was practically over. Sometime then was lost in the distribu- 
tion of yellow perch fry, but as soon as this was done I relieved 
him of attending any of the fishermen on the Choptank River, 
except those at Ganey's, but later I found he did not go near 
G-aney's and had attended but a single fisherman on the Tucka- 
hoe named Wilson. When I remonstrated with him for not at- 
tending other men he said he couldn't, for all the men lifted 
their nets at the same time. It never seemed to occur to him to 
divide his men, leaving one man to attend Wilson while the other 
two men attended other fishermen, and this in spite of the fact 
that I had specifically directed him to do so. It is true one of 
the men at his command was unexperienced and that the boats 



15 

were old, in bad eonditioii and liable to get out of com:inission 
at any time. It is also true that the catch of white perch was 
the smallest in years, but in spite of these disadvantages many 
more of these eggs could have been obtained had a proper effort 
been made to get them. 

A total of 5,950,000 eggs were collected, of these 3,950.000 
were collected on the Choptank and 2,000,000 on the Tuckahoa 
These produced a total of 2,750,000 fry, which were planted as 
follows: Choptank River, 1,158,000; Tuckahoe, 1,292,000. 

See addendum, Report No. 7. 

Eeport Xo. 7, WMfe Perch Hatchery Worl', Season 1917. 

Spawn collected on Choptank River 3,950,000 

Spawn Collected on Tuckahoe River 2,000,000 



Total collection 5,950,000 

Total hatched 2,450,000 

Distributed in Choptank and Tuckahoe Rivers. 
Hatchery Work. Shad. 

This work was conducted both on the Tuckahoe Creek and 
Choptank River. The number of men engaged in catching shad 
on their spawning beds on these rivers has decreased until at 
this time no haul seines are used and only a few men continue 
gilling. These men are mostly farmers or colored men who go 
out from time to time when not otherwise engaged. The fishing 
of all kinds is simply local in character and of little importance. 
On the Tuckahoe Creek the three spawntakers engaged attended 
all the fishermen and it is believed the.v collected all the shad 
eggs that were available. On the Choptank floating boxes as 
temporary egg receptacles were placed at all the fishing shores 
and the fishennen were supplied with the necessary spawning 
equipment and instructed in taking eggs and all agreed, in the 
absence of the station's employees, to take and did take all the 
eggs available. The tw^o spawntakers attended as many fisher- 
men as practicable and regularly collected all the eggs taken so 
that the eggs from practically all the ripe fish taken were re- 



16 

etuved. On the C'hoptank a total of 1,246,000 eggs were taken 
and on the Tuckahoe a total of 2,969,000 eggs, a combined 
total of 4,215,000 eggs. As the number of shad that reach 
the spawning l)eds are decreasing each year there is no reason 
to hope that larger collections can be made in the future. 

The equipment used in hatching the eggs was very crude and 
although the eggs were carefully measured before placing them 
in the boxes there was no practical way of determining the num- 
ber of fry resulting therefrom. The) numbers of fry produced 
in all cases were simply guessed at instead of being estimated by 
careful measurements as is done where more up-to-date hatchery 
equipment is used. It is estimated that the 1,246,000 eggs col- 
lected on the Choptank produced 952,000 fry and the 2,969,000 
eggs collected on the Tuckahoe produced 2,177,000 fry, a com- 
bined total of 3,129,000 fry. 

See addendum. Reports Nos. 8 and 9, for detailed collections 
and distribution. 

Report No. 8, Shad HafcJiery Work, Cliopiank River, 
Seaso7i 1917. 

Total fish received 39 

Total eggs collected 1,246,000 

Total fry hatched 952,000 

Planted in Choptank, Nanticoke and Transquakin Rivers. 

Report No. 9, Sliad Hatchery Work, Tuckahoe River, 
Season 1917. 

Total fish taken 92 

Total eggs collected 2,969,000 

Total fry hatched 2,177,000 

Planted in Tuckahoe, Deep Creek, Knotts Creek, Snows Creek, 
and Chester, Sassafras, Transquakin and Pocomokc Rivers. 

Hatchery Work. Herring. 

In view of the economic importance and rapid decline in the 
catch of these food fish an effort was made to collect and hatch 



17 

as many of these eggs as practicable, but as there was l)ut a 
single small poniid and no fykes set for these fish in the vicinity 
of the hatchery and the catch in this pound averiiged less than 
100 fish per day a total of but 6,600,000 eggs were collected. 
These produced 5,280,000 fry which were planted In the Chop- 
tank River, near Denton, Md. As these fish are still taken in 
pounds in fairly large numbers at Crumpton, I would recom- 
inend, if hatchery Avork is taken up there, that every effort be 
made to propagate as many of these fish as possible. It is be- 
lieved there are other places in the State where large numbers 
of these eggs for propagating purposes can be obtained. 

Summary. 

Shad (alosa Sapidissima). — It is evident that less than one- 
tenth as m^ny shad return to their natui'al spawning beds on 
the rivers of the Eastern Shore of IMaryland, as compared with 
15 or 20 years ago. 

Branch Herring (Pomolobers pseudoharengus) . — The outlook 
of the perpetuation of the branch herring industry is very dis- 
couraging. Reports everywhere show that very few of these fish, 
once so numerous, return to their spawning beds. Years ago 
these fish in great numbers spawned in the shallow Avaters of all 
these rivers, creeks and rivulets. In these same waters today 
they are nearly extinct. 

Glut Herriiig (Pomolobers aestivalis). — The Glut herring 
which normally keep in the deeper water of the rivers and bays 
and spawn in deeper water than the branch herring have fared 
somewhat better, but even they are rapidly disappearing so that 
from reports obtained it is certain that they are reproducing in 
very greatly diminished numbers as eomipared with years ago. 

Striped Bass or Rock Fish (Roccus lineatus). — Very few of 
these fish are taken in the spring of the year, showing that but 
few spawn here as compared with years ago. In recent years 
some isolated large catches of rock have been made in several 
of these rivers in the fall of the year where normally they have 
not been taken in large numbers. The explanation of this is not 
to be found in an increase in the stock of rock fish, but in a de- 
crease of food supply due to extensive menhaden and crab fish- 



18 

ing. For the same reason large numbers of sea trout have 
recently been taken in waters not normally inhabited by them. 

Common Sturgeon (Acipenser Sturio). — These were once 
\ery numerous but are now nearly extinct. 

White Cat (Ameiurus Catus). — These fish are taken in 
l)Ouncls, fykes and other nets during their migrations to their 
spawning beds and are rapidly disappearing. 

Bull Hieads (Ameiurus nebulosus). — This common food fish is 
also becoming scarce. 

Yellow Perch (Perca Flavescens). — In some rivers these fish 
arc taken in large numbers and some fishermen are inclined to 
think they are not diminishing, but these large catches in recent 
years as compared with catches made years ago is not necessarily 
due to as large a stock of fish as then as it is to improved meth- 
cds in fishing and a greater effort being made to catch them be- 
cause of the great increase in their market value. This is true 
{■f all these fishes ; as they become scarcer and scarcer and their 
market value higher and higher their pursuit on the part of 
those who have continued fishing becomes keener and keener, 
in other rivers, for instance, the Nanticoke, Wicomico, Poco- 
moke and Choptank there can be no question but that these fish 
ji.ave greatly diminished in numbers. Yellow perch is one of 
those species of fishes that under natural conditions fertilize a 
very high percentage of the eggs deposited and a very large per- 
centage of the eggs hatch. They are a hardy fish and when let 
alone a few years rapidly increase in numbers. 

White Perch (Morone Americana). — On all the Eastern Shore 
rivers these fish have decreased in numbers with the possible ex- 
ception of the Chester River. On some of the rivers, for in- 
stance, the Wicomico and Choptank their numbers have greatly 
diminished, while on the Chester River abnormal catches were 
made during the past season. 

Criticisms and Recommendations. 

The fish cultural work as conducted by the State has been 
of a very unscientific, unprogressive and primitive character. 
This has been true, not only in methods and equipment used, but. 
in the personnel employed. 



19 

The duties of a fish eultiirist are so varied that only )\y years 
of close observ'ation, study, experience and instruction under 
the direct supervision of experienced and progressive fish eul- 
turists does he become efficient. He not only must have some 
knowledge of the fishes he intends propagating, their economic 
value to the State, their habits, migrations, growth, food, en- 
vironment, enemies, natural reproduction which necessarily in- 
cludes some knowledge of the character of the water in which 
this takes place, such as temperature, depth, nature of bottom, 
nest building, if any, etc., the character of the eggs, such as 
adhesive, buoyant, heavj^ semi-buoyant, length of incubations, 
character of the young, their enemies, food, growth, nets or 
traps of various kinds used in catching fish, best methods of 
taking, fertilizing and caring for eggs in the field, their transfer 
to the hatchery, their handling therein, together with a full 
knowledge of the most approved hatching equipment, the care 
of the fry, their transfer to planting beds, and if rearing is done 
he must have full knowledge of the time to begin feeding, the 
food to be used, its preparations, preservations and presenta- 
tions, rearing equipment, fish diseases and the most approved 
methods and remedies in combating them, sorting and a thou- 
sand and one things that can be learned only by close observa- 
tion and experience. He must also have some knowledge of 
physics and be some sort of a civil engineer to be able to use 
good judgment in the construction of racks, screens, traps, 
filters, ponds, reservoirs, flumes, dams, etc. Nor is this all, for 
he must have imagination to create and adaptability to apply 
many and varied devices to meet the many problems constantly 
presenting themselves to the practical fish eulturist. He must be 
able to make close observations, careful experiments and keep 
correct records. He mtist have some administrative ability to 
be able to direct the work of his assistants. He must be a dip- 
lomat and teacher in order to command the good will, assistance 
and cooperation of fishermen and sportsmen as well as that 
of the public in general. It is needless to say that the services 
of such a man cannot be obtained except at an exorbitant salary 
if his tenure of office is to be determined by political favoritism 
or exigencies and the value and benefits to be derived from pro- 
gressive fish culture by the great State of Maryland is far too 



20 

important to be entrusted to any one other than the most com- 
petent fish culturist that can be obtained. 

The equipment on hand is not only obsolete, but nearly all of 
it is in very bad condition, being a discredit to the State and a 
reflection upon the cause of fish culture in that intelligent men 
seeing the bad condition of the equipment, such as cans, boats, 
buildings, boxes, etc., the unsanitary and filthy condition of 
quarters and bedding, the crude methods of handling eggs and 
fry, the guesswork used in estimating the eggs taken and fry 
produced, the lack of fish cultural knowledge on the part of the 
men employed, these things must necessarily unfavorably im- 
press all who come in contact with the work. The State cannot 
afford to permit such conditions to exist any more than can a 
business house or corporation expect to prosper and command 
the respect of the public that uses obsolete equipment, loose 
methods, untrained employees and unsanitary buildings and 
quarters. 

The boats of all kinds should be thoroughly overhauled and 
repaired, painted and put in good condition. The power boats 
should be supplied wath lights, life preservers, fire extinguishers, 
horns, suitable water-tight lockers for batteries, tools, fish cul- 
tural equipment, such as pans, buckets, dippers, oilskins, etc., 
and in a proper receptacle on each boat should be a suitable kit 
of tools, packing and duplicate parts of everything on the en- 
gine that is liable at any time to give way, such as springs, 
firing pins, spark plugs, etc. 

All the hatching boxes in good condition should be retained 
for use in handling yellow perch eggs and for distribution along 
the riter as temporary receptacles for holding eggs as indicated 
elsewhere in this report. All other boxes should be destroyed. 
All the cans should be condemaied as all are in bad condition. 
New 10-gallon cans should be purchased. These should be 
painted outside and stenciled with the name of the State and 
station in which they belong. 

Arrangements or agreements should be entered into with all 
the public carriers of the State for transferring fish. All pans, 
buckets, dippers, screens, aquaria, tables, tubing, tubes, nets, 
jars, trays, shipping boxes, tanks, etc., should be as nearly stan- 



21 

dard in size as possible and should be purchased with a view to 
their adaptability to their respective intended purposes. 

A comprehensive up-to-date hatchery should be constructed 
and equipped in accordance with approved plans and under the 
direct supervision of an experienced fish culturist. The location 
of the hatcheiy and its equipment must be determined by the 
kinds of fish it is desired to propagate and their abundance. It 
should be located as near their spawning beds as possible, but 
regard must also be given to transportation facilities, ease of 
securing supplies, suitable and abundant water for hatching 
purposes, cost of pumping or securing gravity flow, etc. 

It seems certain that more shad eggs can be obtained on the 
Tuckahoe Creek than elsewhere from the Eastern Shore waters, 
but as the number of shad eggs that can be obtained even on this 
creek and in view of the fact that even this number is certain 
to decrease unless very radical measures are taken to permit 
shad in increased numbers to return to their spawning beds, I 
cannot recomimend the continuation of shad cultural operations, 
except as a side issue to other fish cultural work, anywhere on 
the rivers or creeks mentioned in this report. On the Tuckahoe 
Creek aside from the limited number of shad eggs that can be 
obtained no eggs in large numbers from other fish can be ob- 
tained. Practically no herring and only very limited numbers 
of yellow perch and white perch are taken on this creek. In 
fact the fishing on this creek has declined to such an extent that 
no pound nets and only about a dozen hedge fykes are set on the 
spawning beds of yellow perch and white perch. The same con- 
dition exists on the spawning beds of the Choptank River. 

As no extensive white perch, yellow perch or herring cultural 
work and only a very limited amount of shad cultural work can 
be done on either the Choptank River or Tuckahoe Cteek, I re- 
spectfully recommend that an effort lie made to collect these eggs 
in the vicinity of Crumpton, Md., on a section of the Chester 
River from Chestertown, Md., to Millington, Md. It is certain 
that a greater number of yellow perch, white perch and herring 
eggs can be obtained at this place than elsewhere on the Eastern 
Shore. Some shad eggs can be obtained at this place, but not as 
many as on the Tuckahoe. Large numbers of yellow perch and 
white perch eggs can also be obtained at Centreville. Md., on a 



22 

branch of the Chestertown River. These eggs eoukl be trans- 
ferred to Crumpton by boat or auto. If work is taken up at this 
place I would recommend that in advance of the season arrange- 
ments should be made \Adth the fishermen in the vicinity of 
Crumpton and at Centreville to hold all the unspent yellow 
perch in live cars until after they have cast their eggs, the eggs 
to be collected from time to time and transferred to the hatch- 
ery. These men, as well as all other fishernren along all that 
part of the Choptank River in question, should be provided with 
floating boxes as temporary receptacles for holding fish eggs of 
any species collected until they are transferred to the hatchery. 
To carry out this transfer work the Commission should have 
suitable power boats of sufficient speed and room. 

In the case of all eggs the fishernren should be instructed in 
taking them — to this end all hatchery employes should be ex- 
perienced spawntakers — and induced to take them — thereby re- 
lieving the Commission from the expense of employing a lot of 
men. It may not be practicable to interest all the fishermen in 
doing this the first season, but it should be the aim and purpose 
of the Comnrission as these men can learn to take the eggs and 
do it with but little loss of time or trouble, but it will be neces- 
sary for the Commission to make this as easy as possible and to 
this end the fishermen should be provided with the necessary 
spawning equipment, such as pans, buckets and dippers. 

The basis of payment should in all cases be the numljer of 
good eggs received and in no case should the men be paid for the 
number of fish handled and no tickets should be given the fisher- 
men other than a daily statement of the number of eggs received. 
A correct record of the irumber of good eggs received from each 
man should be kept and this record used as the basis for pay- 
ment at the end of each month, or better still, at the end of the 
season only. 

I would recommend that payment be made on the following 
basis : 

Bate Per No. Eggs 
Species Quart Per Quart 

Yellow Perch $ .25 100,000 

White Perch 6.00 1,600,000 

Herring 1.25 600,000 

Shad 84 28,000 

This would be at the rate of 3 cents per thousand eggs. 



23 

Should the market value of the lis;h remain abnormally high 
it might become necessary to change these prices in order to in- 
duce men to take the eggs, but under normal conditions these 
prices will be found to be reasonable and just both to the State 
and to the fishermen. 

Should it be deemed desirable to continue shad cultural opera- 
tions on Tuckahoe Creek this could be done as in the past, but if 
confined to shad but two or three m;en will be needed and then 
only from April 15th to June 1st. In no sense, however, will 
the number of shad eggs obtainable there justify the expense 
of establishing and operating an up-to-date hatchery. 

Whei ever hatchery work is permanently taken up it should be 
the aim of the Commission to well stock and build up the fishing 
in the waters from which eggs are collected before giving atten- 
tion to other waters. 

Observations of Violations of the Law^ 

On March 19, 1917, about a mile above the Tuckahoe Fish 
Hatchery a man in a boat was seen to throw overboard hundreds 
of small white ])erch at least 90 per cent, of which were dead. 

On March 22, 1917, about two miles belov/ tlie Tuckahoe Fish 
Hatchery at a bridge, a man was seen to throw overboard hun- 
dreds and hundreds of undersize dead white perch. At the same 
time he was seen to deliver to a local trader several bushels of 
white perch at least half of which were under size. 

On April 2d and again on April 11th a man on the Choptank 
at a point near Denton was seen after fishing his nets to sort the 
larger white perch from the small ones. The larger ones were 
sold on the streets in Denton, while the small ones were put in 
baskets and Avhen last seen were in the cabin of his boat. Dis- 
position unknown. These were the most flagrant violations 
seen by the writer, but upon other occasions at other places 1 
saw large numbers of dead undersized Avhite perch lying along 
the river bank where fish had been culled or floating upon the 
surface of the water in the vicinity of nets that had been fished, 
showing that little or no regard is paid to the law forbidding 
taking or killing perch under seven inches long. In all cases 
the excuse was offered that it was impracticable to avoid killing 
a lot of these undersized fish when taken in fyke nets. 



24 

Remedial. 

The fishing industry of the State as pertaining to the anad- 
romous fishes has reached a condition where its salvation is to 
l)e found in nothing less than radical legislative action and rigid 
enforcement. Important as fish culture is the fish culturist is 
helpless unless the brood fish are permitted to i-each their natural 
spawning beds. Only after the fish reach the spawliing beds do 
iheir eggs become suf^ciently developed to be susceptible to 
natural reproduction or to fish cultural m>ethods. 

The foundations of all legislative action should be to permit 
the parent fish to reach their spawning beds. The ideal law is 
that which permits every fish to reach maturity and reproduce 
itself before being used for food. Herein is found the only pos- 
sible remedy for the unsatisfactory condition of the State's fish- 
ing industry. The Avholesale slaughter of your anadromous 
fishes en route to their spawning beds must inevitably result in 
disaster and that this condition is rapidly approaching admits 
of no doubt as shown by the records in this report ; nor is this 
condition of the anadromous fishes confined to the Eastern Shore 
of Maryland, but exists all along our Atlantic Seaboard and in 
all the States directly affected the nation's representatives are 
urging remedial legislation. 

The one thing more than any other one thing that is respon- 
sible for the present unsatisfactory condition of the fishing in- 
dustry is the excessive use of pound nets in taking fish. 

There should be no extension in the use of these nets and laws 
should be enacted forbidding the use of these nets, except dur- 
ing every other week, and that the law might be easily enforced 
the open and closed weeks should be the same in all parts of the 
State. During the closed weeks the fishermen should be com- 
pelled under heavy penalties to lift and keep lifted all pounds 
and hearts thereto. It is not enough that the pounds or traps 
proper be lifted, but the hearts tSo for these are easily converted 
into traps and the law that was once on the Statute Books Avhich 
compelled fishermen to lift and keep lifted all pounds from 
Saturday night until Monday morning soon came into disrepute, 
and was repealed because the fishermen made traps out of the 



25 



hearts and forebays of their pounds thereby making the intent 
of the law without effect. In fact a pound net heart either 
single or double is an effective trap in itself. See Sketch. 





Pound with single heart 



Pound with double heart 

a-laad, b-heart, c-pound. 

Fishermen should be oompelled to let a breai at all timei between 

all the pounds equal to the length of the lead used.viij 



■00 =-4 



-Da 



€S 



■€a 



aaaa-leada, 
used. 



bbbb-pounda, coco-open space equal to the length of the leads 



These so-called hoop pounds, or fyke nets or hedge fykes or 
trap nets (there seems to be no distinctive name for them) that 
are extensively used in all the Eastern Shore rivers should be 
forbidden by law, except during the months of November, De- 
cember, Januarj^, February and March when the water is cold 
and fish are hardy. 

It is understood these nets came into use to avoid paying a 
pound-net license. The objections to these nets is found in that 
nearly all the shad and many of the herring and white perch 
that enter them soon die, and unless the nets are frequently 
lifted, these dead fish soon became unfit for food or are eaten by 
eels, besides the fishermen almost without exception say it is im- 
possible to comply with the State law forbidding taking or kill- 
ing undersized white perch and yellow perch when fishing these 
nets in warm weather. 

These nets are set in various ways, but the fundamentals re- 
main the same, viz. : 



Lead 




Fyke 




art or pen 



Fyke 



They are simply fj^kes ha\ing leads and forebays or hearts. 

The use of trammel nets (so-called buck nets) in taking rock 
should be forbidden, especially the use of these nets in surround- 
ing schools of rock. 



26 

All rock weighing more than 10 pounds should be protected at 
all times, except those taken by angling with hook and line. A 
law should be passed forbidding taking rock in any manner 
under 10 inches long. 

All white perch and yellow perch less than eight inches long 
should be protected at all times. 

It should be unlawful to set any pound net within several 
miles of the mouth of rivers nor anywhere in the main channels 
of rivers or streams. 

Pound nets should not be permitted on the spawning beds 
of shad except for fish cultural purposes under special permit 
from State or national representatives. Staked or anchored 
gill nets for shad should be strictly forbidden in any waters 
of the State, except for fish cultural purposes under special per- 
mit from State or national representatives and then only be- 
tween the hours of 3 P. M. and 10 P. M. and in no case should 
any crew of two or three men, one of which should be an ex- 
perienced spawntaker, be permitted to set more than 600 yards 
of net and then only at such places where the nets can be fre- 
quently overhauled for spawning fish. 

A law should be passed requiring a license for each and every 
net of any kind used in taking fish for any purpose whatever in 
any waters of the State and it should be unlawful to use any 
net of any kind without having attached to it a metal tag hav- 
ing stamped thereon the name and address of the owner, and the 
Commission, and its representatives, should have full authority 
to confiscate any net set or used in any waters of the State that 
is not so marked. 

The importance of licensing all nets is twofold — to provide 
adequate funds for the propagation of fishes and for the en- 
forcement of protective laws. 

There should be embodied in every license a provision requir- 
ing the lessee at all tim;es to permit the State's or Nation's repre- 
sentatives to take fish eggs for fish cultural or scientific pur- 
poses or the same to be done by the lessee when directed to do 
so. As the fishermen are most directly benefited by fish prop- 
agation and protection, they should bear the burden of said 
protection and propagation. 



27 

The fees for these licenses should be graduated according to 
the kind and size of nets used. For the small nets used by farm- 
ers and others at irregular intervals in taking fish for home con- 
sumption, the cost of the license should not exceed the cost of 
recording the same. The burden should fall upon those men 
Avho take fish in large numbers for commlercial purposes. In re- 
gard to these licenses valuable information can be obtained from 
an examination of the licenses and laws governing the same in 
New York and Michigan, also as embodied in the laws of the 
Province of Ontario, Canada. 

The Commission should be empowered to issue special licenses 
for the use of any kind of net at any time in any open or closed 
waters of the State for fish cultural or scientific purposes, under 
such restrictions as they may deem advisable. 

In the absence of sufficient funds from licenses a specific and 
adequate appropriation should be made by the State for the 
propagation of fishes. 

Adequate funds from licenses or otherwise should be provided 
i'or the detection of violations of the laws as pertaining to fishes 
and their enforcement. 

A law should be passed, together with heavy fines or imprison- 
ment, for any one to offer for sale, or to purchase, or to have in 
possession any undersized white perch, yellow perch or rock or 
any other fish not of laAvful size. 

A law should be passed forbidding black bass to be taken in 
nets at any time in any of the waters of the State, and it should 
be unlawful to take them less than 10 inches long in any way at 
any time. As large mouth black bass (Micropterus Salmoides) 
and small mouth black bass (Micropterus Dolomieu) are strictly 
game fishes it should be unlawful to sell them or take them in 
any way, except by hook and line. 



28 
SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT. 

•Fish Cultural. 

Shad. — Shad spend practically all their life in salt water, but 
make yearly migrations to fresh water to mature and deposit 
their eggs. Each female shad deposits about 30,000 eggs, but 
under natural conditions only a very small percentage of the 
eggs deposited are fertilized and mjany of those are lost during 
incubation. The eggs are semi-buoyant, nearly transparent and 
average about 28,000 per quart when fully expanded. Most 
shad spawn and the best results are obtained at a water tempera- 
ture from 55 to 65 Fah. They hatch in about one week. The 
f ]'y are about three-eighths of an inch long, very delicate and al- 
most transparent. In artificial hatching McDonald or Downing 
jars give best results. These are arranged on tables around 
glass and slate aquaria in which the fry as they hatch collect 
and are held until planted. 

Yellow Perch. — These fish are found in fresh and in brackish 
water, but all resort to fresh water to deposit their eggs. The 
average female deposits about 25,000 eggs. They spawn in early 
spring in a w*ater temperature from 38 to 45 degrees and hatch 
in about 16 days. The eggs are semi-buoyant, sm;all, averaging 
about 100,000 per quart, semi-transparent and are held together 
in a mass by a semi-gelatine like ribbon. They are very hardy 
and stand almost any kind of handling. In a state of nature 
the eggs are cast among bushes, weeds, etc., and a very high per- 
centage of the eggs are fertilized and produce fish. The fry are 
small but hardy. The eggs can be successfully incubated in jars 
or boxes, but if handled in boxes the eggs and fry should be 
planted as soon as the egg mass separates, for in boxes there is 
no practicable way of separating the fry from the egg shells 
which decompose and cause many fry to die if left in the boxes. 

White Perch. — These fish are found in both fresh and brackish 
water, but all resort to fresh water to spawn. They cast their 
eggs in spring at a tenuperature from 48 to 60 degrees and hatch 
in two or three days. The eggs are heavy, very adhesive, semi- 
transparent and very small averaging about 1,600,000 eggs per 
quart. They are hatched in jars but require a greater flow of 
water than shad eggs to keep them moving. The fry are very 



29 

small and transparent, so small that the finest wire cloth or 
linen scrim screens are needed to retain them in the aquaria. 
Floating boxes are worthless as a hatching device for these eggs. 

Roch Full. — Rock spend most of their life in salt or brackish 
water, but resort to fresh water to spawn. The females are 
usually very much larger than the males. They deposit their 
eggs at a temperature of 68 to 75 Fah. and the eggs hatch in 
about 36 hours. The eggs at first are very small and are bright 
green in color, but when expelled they absorb a great amount of 
water which makes them semi-bouyant and quite transparent. 
A fish weighing 50 pounds will deposit as many as 4,000,000 
eggs, but in nature only a very small percentage are fertilized. 
When fully expanded they average about 35,000 per quart. 
They are hatched in jars. The fry are very delicate and can be 
retained but a few days after hatching. 

Herring. — These fish spend all their life in salt w^ater resort- 
ing to fresh water only to spa^vn. The eggs are heavy, adhesive, 
small and semi-transparent. They average about 600,000 per 
quart and the fry hatch in a few days. 

Catfish and black bass are propagated in ponds under entirely 
different conditions from the other species mentioned in this re- 
port. Both the basses and catfishes are nest builders. The for- 
mer deposit their eggs on gravel or on the roots of bushes, the 
latter in holes or under rocks or projecting roots. Both the 
basses and catfishes deposit but a few thousand eggs. The parent 
fish guard the eggs and fry until the schools break up. 

Artificial Fertilization. 

In this the eggs from the female and milt from the male is 
ejected into a moist pan and immediately the pan is tilted from 
side to thoroughly incorporate the eggs with the milt. If nec- 
essary to do this a little water may be added. The milt must 
taken from a live fish or one still showing some signs of life, but 
the eggs may be taken from a fish that has been dead for 10 or 
more minutes. When the eggs are ejected they begin to expand 
by the absorption of any fluid around them and fertilization is 
produced by one or more living spermatazoa being drawn 
through the micropyle of the egg's shell and brought in contact 



30 

with the germinal vesicle of the ovum Avithin the shell. The 
eggs and milt must be quickly brought in contact for fertiliza- 
tion can only take place while the egg is expanding by absorp- 
tion and the milt dies within a few minutes after ejection. From 
this it will- readily be seen why so few eggs are fertilized 
naturally by shad, rock and many other fishes that cast their 
eggs without any seeming regard to the presence of male fish. 

After the eggs in the pan have been incorporated with the 
milt the pan should be set aside for a couple minutes, then the 
milt should be washed off by carefully pouring water in the pan, 
then draining it off and repeating the process until the milt is 
removed. In the case of shad, rock and yellow perch the eggs 
require no further attention, except to shake the pan every 10 
or more minutes and give them enough water for absorption. 
When absorption is completed the eggs can be placed in the 
hatching jars. In the case of white perch and herring the eggs 
Piust be stirred during the entire period of absorption to over- 
ccmie their adhesiveness before being placed in jars. The eggs 
are estimated by measuring them in a' glass graduate or by the 
use of a scale after being placed in the jar. The fry are esti- 
mated in the same way. Diead eggs decompose and form a coat- 
ing above the good eggs in the jars and are easily removed by 
small siphons. Just enough water is turned into each jar to 
keep the eggs in slow but continuous motion. The fry escape 
from the jar with the discharged water and are retained in the 
aquaria by fine wire or scrim, screens. See attached ground 
plan for 96- jar hatchery. Scale about 41/2 feet per inch. 
Capacity at any one time — 

Shad, 80,000 eggs per jar 7,680,000 

Yellow Perch, 200,000 eggs per jar 19,200,000 

White Perch, 800,000 eggs per jar. ., . .76,800,000 
Rock Fish, 90,000 eggs per jar 8,640,000 

This capacity, of course, can be greatly increased by crowding 
more jars on the table. 

Veiy respectfully submitted, 

J. P. Snyder, 

U. 8. Bureau of Fisheries. 



31 



Suggested Plan of Hatchery. 



Coal Pins or Small Office. 



If Gaa Engines are used 



Bailers or Gas Eiigines 
Pumps 



.j\ Bocltors for Tools etc. 
1 1 

rr 




Scale 4^- f*. per Inch 



LIBRPIRY OF CONGRES 



002 858 031 9 



